Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and settings, they belong to Rick Riordan and Greek Mythology.

The dreams weren't over. Finally I was in a child's room with white walls and Finding Nemo posters. A girl who looked about seven sat calmly on the edge of the bed, her sheets pulled tight around her shoulders. She had blond curls and grey eyes, so my first thought was immediately Annabeth. But this girl was different, her mouth curled mischievously and she had a slightly upturned nose.

Then a woman walked into the room. It was obvious she was the girl's mother, but she looked tired and her eyes were puffy from what I assumed was crying. I didn't have to see the ichor stained bronze blade that she set on the table as she walked to know that she was my Wise Girl. Older, more battle hardened. The little girl looked up as Annabeth entered. "Where's daddy?" Daddy? I suddenly recognized the features that had seemed unfamiliar to me. They were Nico's. Nah, just kidding, they were my own. I even noticed a hint of green in her – my future daughter's – eyes. I really wanted to know the answer to her question. Yes, where was daddy?

"Well, sweetie… the thing is…" Oh no…

"Did daddy leave us?" She interrupted as her eyes welled up with tears.

"He didn't want to leave us honey, but yes he did."

"He'll come back right?" Please let me have left on a business trip, please…

Annabeth was silent for a long time before responding. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. I knew what she was going to say even before she said it.

"Percy is…daddy is… dead. He won't be coming back."

Together they cried. Mother and daughter were clutching each other as if they had been left alone in the world. Loyalty was my fatal flaw, and I had a feeling whoever controlled my dream knew it. It hurt me more to see the impact of my death than my death itself. The tears of the ones I loved caused me more pain than being stabbed by the Minotaur himself.

When I awoke to stare at the Hippocampi ornaments strung on the ceiling, my heart was beating rapidly. My lip bled where I had bitten it and I was still shivering. I had been angered by the rule about us having to stay in our respective cabins at night for obvious and slightly inappropriate reasons. Still, one thing I missed about quests was Annabeth sleeping by my side. I had always been able to draw comfort from the daughter of Athena. Now I was alone.

"Yo boss, do you know where the sun is?" I take it back, alone is nice. Blackjack stuck his muzzle through my window. I really had to remember to put screens there. I sent a few choice thoughts to my Pegasus, explaining the notion of privacy. "Don't get mad at me boss, this weird girl sent me." Who? "Dunno boss, but she gave me a carrot, even if I prefer sugar cubes." I guessed it was Skia, but whoever it was I had to give them a talking to, trying to get my horse to eat healthy, for shame.

I found Skia outside the big house sitting on the deck. She was sipping what I assumed to be a glass of nectar. I sat across from her. "What does it taste like?" She simply shrugged, either she had no idea, or she didn't want to tell me. We sat in friendly silence. In the quiet I went over all the details of my dream in my head. I was going to save Nico, no question about it, but I would have to leave camp. And the barrier would prevent me from returning. I couldn't abandon my friends like that. Unless I befriended the daughter of darkness, she could get me back in. So I waited to hear why she called me here.

A final sip later, she got straight to the point. "I heard there was a prophecy, I would like to hear it." There should be a council to discuss this. I should not be telling her in case it got out and scared all the other campers, but I had the feeling Skia could keep a secret. It isn't like anyone had the power to change the Oracle's predictions anyways. So I repeated it. Skia looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Mockery, misery, doom, discord, and deceit. They are children of Nyx. You have met Momos – mockery, and Akhlys – misery." I squirmed a bit in my seat, unfortunately, she noticed. "Am I mistaken?" I looked at my hands that were clasped together on the table.

"You met Apate, god of doom, as well." It was no question. I nodded stiffly. She looked me in the eyes. I saw something broken within them, shattered.

"Apate is no prophet Perseus Jackson. He is referred to as the bringer of doom, not the foreteller of it. What falsehoods did he show you?"

I was about to answer with a mere shrug when I noticed Leo walking outside. His shoulders sagged and his hands smoldered. It all came out in a rush. I told Skia my whole dream. Well. Almost my whole dream. I left out my own death. I felt as if as soon as I mentioned it, I would crack and go insane from grief over a moment in time that had yet to happen. The Daughter of darkness's features became more and more scrunched in worry. By the time I had gotten to the part about Nico. Skia stood up and shouted:

"Go! Find him! You are the only one who can. Apate might have changed the date so you would arrive too late. Run Jackson. " Well, okie dokie then. I ran, whistled for my horse and leapt onto Blackjack. Skia might be tricking me. She might not let me back in, yet part of me didn't care. I remembered the little boy that played cards and danced about speaking of attack points and whatnot. Nico. Would. Not. Die. But one thing bothered me before crystalizing with clarity. Annabeth! I couldn't just leave without saying goodbye. I should turn back, but would I forgive myself if Nico died because I stalled? Or would I forgive myself if I died and never saw my Wisegirl again?

"Yo boss, why we stoppin'?"

I was saved the decision because, just as I was about to cross the camp limits, an enormous tentacle swatted us out of the sky.

I did say "tentacle". I didn't remember any Greek myths involving giant octopuses, but in all the weirdness, I bet there was one. The ground was approaching at an alarming rate. Slowly my mount extended his wings and our decent slowed. Unfortunately, the ground shifted just as we neared it, and we found ourselves stuck in quicksand that simple materialized out of nowhere. It reminded me of the muskeg in Alaska. I had long gotten over my irrational fear of drowning, but despite my father being the Earthshaker, I seriously doubted my ability to breath in dirt. Earthshaker… A-ha!

The ground shook, sadly, my efforts only made me sink faster. I started to scream. A daughter of Demeter made a vine grow near me and I clung on to it for dear life. I heard people screaming my name as I slowly crawled back out. Annabeth grabbed me by the elbow and hauled me upwards. She gave me a quick hug.

"Umm, boss, a little help?" That was the closest I've ever come to hearing Blackjack sound scared. Of course he couldn't grab on to the vine. He surged his wings back and forth, but it was only speeding the progress of his downward descent. More vines grew around him, but it wasn't as if we could wrap them around his body. The wonderful and loyal black Pegasus tried to grab one in his mouth, but it tore. Soon only his muzzle and wide black eyes peeked above the surface. I felt a 'manly' tear roll down my cheek.

"Boss?" Yes?, I responded. "Was I good at bashing monster heads?"

"You were the best." I said out loud, as my voice quavered. He whinnied as the earth closed up over his head. Blackjack…was gone.

I heard laughter. "How touching." It was a woman who stood a short distance away. I got up. Rage replaced my sorrow. No one, I repeat, no one, gets away with hurting my horse. I drew Riptide and charged.

This part actually made me extremely sad, despite being cliché.

Forever the procrastinator,

Wishsight